Hawkes Bay

Bob Campbell "The first Bilancia Chardonnay I have tasted. Fruit from La Collina vineyard and Bridge Pa Triangle. Indigenous yeast and 15 months in oak without fining or cold stabilisation. Attractive, elegant chardonnay with tight citrus, mineral, struck flint and savoury yeast lees and spicy oak flavours. A classy chardonnay with development potential." 

 International Wine Challenge: Gold 2017

98 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit "A wine of total seduction, the gloriously perfumed bouquet shows dark plum, blueberry, floral and game with nuances of cedar and black pepper. The palate is powerful and sumptuous, and delivers waves of delectable fruit flavours, enhanced by velvety texture and loads of supple tannins. Compelling and formidable, while remaining pure and true to its origin. From their Omahu Gravels and Twyford Gravels vineyards in the Gimblett Gravels district. At its best: 2018 to 2032."

James Suckling  "There’s a fresh and lively feel to this rich and layered chardonnay that offers plenty of peach flavour and some mango, too. All delivered in a quite assertive, structured and punchy, taut mode. Drink now."

Winemaker "The 2018 vintage has produced a classic Hawke's Bay Chardonnay. Beautifully fragrant citrus, stone fruit and roasted nuts combine on a finely styled, textured and balanced palate showing good complexity."

94+ Points - Magdalena Sienkiewicz "Oozes with a tropical perfume of passionfruit, lychee and melon. The palate opens up with lip-smacking citrus, a result of cool fermentation retaining purity and aromatics. The wine expands on the palate with generous, beautifully ripe fruit. Lees ageing prior to bottling has developed that great mid-palate weight and added to the wine’s intense fruit characters. Delicious example of Sauvignon Blanc which manifests its scope for generosity and ripeness."

James Suckling "This has a bright array of passion fruit and grilled yellow peaches. Green mangoes, too. Really fresh and energetic palate, it has a sense of focus and concentration with very upfront fruit."

97 Points - Stuart McCloskey “The nose offers swathes of complexity, coupled with reductive flinty notes. Lemon oil in abundance which I love. The wine is broad on the palate, concentrated and fans out magnificently with a fine border of acidity. Weighty, nutty and the waxy expression is very appealing and not at all heavy. Sweet stone fruits complement the savoury edge – Zips of lemon and lime acidity delight. Unashamedly ripe and struts its stuff with much confidence. Moreish and mouth-watering. Has cellaring potential but has immediate appeal. Served with Zalto Bordeaux glassware and Queen’s Somebody to Love played at full blast. Fermented with 100% wild, indigenous yeast and fermented in French Barriques of which 27% were new with the balance 1 and 2 years old. It was then matured for 10 months in barriques.”

100 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit 

"Is this perfection? No, it is better than that, if that is possible. The wine is perfectly formed and composed, and is very proper, but it offers more. Exceptional concentration, brilliant structure, impressive fruit purity and layers of delicious flavours with seamless mouthfeel make this stunning wine thought-provoking and sensually awe-inspiring.